Fenner nearly has a coronary when he wakes up to find a naked Neil lying beside him. He leaps from the bed and is unable to conceal his disgust as he makes it clear to Neil that he’s barking up the wrong tree. As the day progresses, Neil becomes more and more irritated with Fenner’s avoidance tactics and accuses him of being homophobic—if he doesn’t tread carefully, he’ll put career in jeopardy.

Shaz and Denny return from the block and vow to take their revenge on Buki for messing up their escape plans. They see an opportunity to humiliate Buki when she announces her intentions to find a gorgeous male pen-pal…enter Phil McCracken—fill my crack in, geddit? Buki is delighted when she receives a letter from Phil and brags to her cellmates about how wonderful her new boyfriend is. Shaz and Denny intercept Buki’s reply. They steal a photograph of another inmate’s boyfriend and include it in Phil’s next letter, along with a request for Buki to send him a VO—he’s being released in a few days time and wants to see her.

Karen and Mark meet for a drink after work and discuss their relationship. Mark is concerned that Karen still has feelings for Fenner and wonders if it is worth them taking things any further. Karen admits that she still cares for Fenner, but that she’s determined to move on. They agree to take things slowly and then share a kiss to seal their decision. Neil meanwhile is beginning to lose patience with Fenner’s jumpy behaviour, not to mention the fact that he has started to jam his bedroom door shut with a chair, and orders him out of his house. The following day, Fenner confides in Karen who responds by laughing hysterically.

Cassie is becoming increasingly worried by Roisin’s depression and goes to speak with Mark. He agrees to telephone Aidan, hoping that when he hears about the state his wife is in, he’ll change his mind and bring her children in to visit. Meanwhile, Roisin realises that she needs something to counteract the effects of the sleeping pills she’s been taking and buys some speed from Buki. She doesn’t need drugs to lift her mood when she discovers that Aidan has agreed to bring the kids in to visit, but her excitement is short-lived when a mandatory drugs test reveals her to be a user. Although disappointed in Roisin, Mark realises how close Roisin is to the edge and decides to allow the visit to go ahead. A passing Neil orders Mark to cancel the visit. Roisin is distraught and has to be dragged away.

Buki is upset when Phil doesn’t turn up for his visit. She plays right into Shaz and Denny’s hands by lying to the other women. But that’s not enough for Shaz and Denny who decide to give Buki the opportunity to dig a bigger hole for herself. They give her a envelope and a ring that was left at the gate for her. Buki is ecstatic when she reads that Phil wants them to get engaged and takes great pleasure in showing the ring off to the rest of the wing. Shaz and Denny choose that moment to reveal the humiliating truth.

Karen objects when Fenner confines Roisin to a spell on the block—does he want to push the woman to suicide? Fenner’s hands are tied—there’s nothing he can do while Neil is breathing down his neck. Karen finally comprehends the extent of Neil’s unprofessional behaviour and decides to confront him, accusing him of taking his frustrations out on Roisin. Neil deflects Karen’s accusations by taking a compromising photograph of her out of his wallet. He shows the picture to Karen and tells her that Fenner gave it to him.

Episode Factsheet
What are Mandatory Drug Tests?
Find out in the fact sheet compiled by The Centre for Crime
and Justice Studies.

Episode 7 - Mandatory Drug Testing